Offensive juggernauts Welsh, Lake Arthur meet
Teams riding unbeaten streaks
For the second week in a row, the Welsh Greyhounds will be taking on a Jefferson Davis Parish rival. Last week produced a thrilling nondistrict win over Class 3A Jennings. This week, the Greyhounds will travel to face District 4-2A rival Lake Arthur.
Both teams enter on a roll offensively. Welsh (4-2, 0-0) has won four consecutive games while averaging 46.8 points per game. Lake Arthur (5-1, 1-0) has won three in a row while scoring 43.3 ppg.
“I think the past couples of weeks we had been playing pretty good, then we had a good second half against Jennings,” said Welsh head coach John Richardson. “We have had pretty good execution on offense and have played good defense. We have had some miscues on special teams that we need to get cleaned up.”
Quarterback Austyn Benoit led the Greyhounds over Jennings. He ran for 141 yards and threw for 138 yards and three touchdowns.
“He has done a good job,” said Richardson of Benoit, a first-year starter under center. “You can see him getting better and better every week. We have tailored the offense to the things he does well. We have had a couple of running backs help out and been more of a running team than we were last year.”
Over the past four weeks, Jerome Hebert and Jyheim Simon have combined to run for 1,004 yards and 14 touchdowns. Their emergence has allowed Alec Iguess, an all-state linebacker, to focus on that side of the ball after being the primary ballcarrier through the first two games of the season.
“They are all different,” Richardson said. “Alec is a power back, Jyheim has the speed and Hebert has a little of both. We can keep fresh legs back there.”
The Tigers know all about fresh legs. Daylon Charles, Tory Levias and Torrell Levias have combined for 1,320 yards and 21 touchdowns. Receiver Travaris Achane has added seven touchdowns.
“They are explosive on offense,” Richardson said of the Tigers. “Their receivers have done a good job. You have to play them honest. We will have to get pressure on the quarterback (Deuce Duhon).”
District 4-1A
There is a big showdown in District 4-1A where undefeated Oberlin (6-0, 3-0) visits St. Edmund (5-1, 3-0). The Blue Jays have shut out four consecutive opponents and allowed only 22 points all season. Oberlin has given up 28 points all season and allowed one opponent to reach double digits. Collin Chatman leads the Tigers offense with 613 yards and seven touchdowns.
Welsh Greyhound’s Da’Ren Zeno (29) runs up the sideline against Washington Marion during the SPOT Jamboree at Matt Walker Stadium in Sulphur, Louisiana on Friday, August 24, 2018. (AP Photo/Lake Charles American Press, Kirk Meche)